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< Back Drew Bucktooth ​ ​ ​ Drew Bucktooth Onondaga Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 February 3, 1981 ​ Drew Bucktooth is a lacrosse and hockey player from the Onondaga Nation in upstate NY. As a member of the Syracuse Stars hockey team he played against the highest level and won back to back state championships, a national championship and a world championship and was MVP of the world championship game. As a 16 year old, Drew was selected for the United States National team but was drafted and played in the OHL instead but still played for Team USA in international competitions and was named the team captain. In lacrosse, the first goal Drew ever scored was on his own goalie, but he made sure to do it correctly after that. As an eighth grader Drew led the varsity lacrosse team in scoring, as a ninth grader he led his league in scoring. As a 10th grader Drew once again led his team in scoring and earned All American, one of only two lacrosse players in NY state history to earn the tile of All American as a 10th grader. When Drew was 15 he competed with the Iroquois Nationals in the U19 world lacrosse championships in Japan, although Drew was the youngest player there, he led the tournament in scoring and was named to the All World Team. A few years later the Lacrosse World Championships were held in Australia, and again Drew was named to the All World Team and has the distinction as the only person in history to make the U19 All World Team twice. As a member of the Onondaga RedHawks, his team captured the Presidents cup twice, which is the Canadian National box lacrosse championship. These days Drew can still be found in and out of hockey rinks and lacrosse fields coaching his four sons, Blake, Gavin, Dylan and Cruze. <Back

< Back David Powless ​ ​ ​ David Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 May 29, 1943 ​ David Powless’ high school football team was the undefeated Illinois State Champions of 1960. He was an All State offensive tackle. He received college football scholarship offers. He chose the Oklahoma University (OU). He left OU as a sophomore and went to the University of Illinois and played offensive guard on the University of Illinois Big 10 and Rose Bowl Championship team in 1964. In 1965 as a graduating senior he was drafted in the National Football League (NFL) by the New York Giants and also by the American Football League (AFL) by the Kansas Chiefs. He was with the New York Giants one year and then went to the Washington Redskins his second year. That year he had a spinal injury requiring surgery that ended his football career. Powless worked for Native American tribes including his Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. He also owned several personal businesses. His expertise was in economic development. In 1983 he received an award in the “White House Rose Garden” from Vice President of the United States George Bush for the development of recycling technology. In 2008 he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions. <Back

Delby Powless Category Athlete Tribe Mohawk Year Inducted 2022 ​ Delby Powless is member of the Mohawk Nation. He is a Youth Counselor in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River, in Ontario, Canada. He graduated from Bellevue University with a Bachelors degree in Child Protection and Juvenile Justice and from Wilfred Laurier University in Children’s Mental Health. In high school Powless participated in multiple sports including lacrosse, hockey, football and wrestling. In wrestling he was a Provincial Champion and a Canadian National Silver Medalist. Powless played five seasons with the Six Nations Junior A Arrows lacrosse club and is currently the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 686 total points. While attending Herkimer County Community College, Powless was twice named All-American. He transferred to D1 Rutgers University where he led the Scarlet Knights in scoring both years and was a 2x All-American, while leading Rutgers to 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Powless also won a Canadian University lacrosse championship with Brock University and was named All-Canadian. Powless represented the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team as a player at six World Championships, and at the first-ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, he was selected to the All-World Team. In 2003 Powless was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Top Aboriginal Athlete. He was drafted 1st overall in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft by the Buffalo Bandits and helped them win the Champions Cup in 2008. Powless also played in Major League Lacrosse with Toronto Nationals winning the Steinfeld Cup in 2009. Powless was the head coach of Hagersville Secondary School Men’s Lacrosse teams for 8 seasons leading them to 5 consecutive Provincial Championships. He also coached the Iroquois Nationals U-19 Men’s Lacrosse team at the 2012 World Championships to a Bronze medal in Turku, Finland. Powless recently released his first novel about lacrosse titled “Medicine Game”. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Eddie Lone Eagle Category Athlete Tribe Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 Eddie Lone Eagle grew up on the streets of Minneapolis as a young man and wanted to give his life more meaning by being a part of something much bigger than himself. In 2011 he witnessed local powerlifters at the Los Campeones Gym on Franklin Avenue in South Minneapolis and discovered his true calling. Lone Eagle is a citizen of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, a member of the Eagle Clan, and also a descendant of the White Earth Nation. After finding himself intrigued by the power of lifting, he started powerlifting in 2011 at the Los Campeones Gym. He knew he wanted to be committed to be one, too. In 2013, he won the International Powerlifting League (IPL) World Powerlifting Championships in the 165 lb. weight class with a 529 lb. squat, 352 lb. bench, and a 551 lb. deadlift, with a 1432 lb. total. He became a World Champion in the World Affiliate of United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Federation. In 2020, Lone Eagle was invited to lift at the Pro Day at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. His personal records were 925 lb. squat, 535 lb. bench, and 615 lb. deadlift for a qualifying total of 2075 lbs. in the 220 lb. weight class, qualifying him for the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) World Championships in Illinois that following October. His future and main goals in powerlifting are to be invited to lift at the World Powerlifting Organization (WPO). Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. Builder 2022 Jun 9, 1953 <Back Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and Turtle clan family member. Ms. Waterman has served as a teacher and Mathematics Specialist for nearly forty years at the Onondaga Nation School. In 2016 the NIEA-NYS awarded Teacher of the Year, and The NIEA awarded her the National Community Service Teacher of the Year in 2014. Ms. Waterman co-founded the Onondaga Nation Education organization, the Onondaga Nation Minor Athletics, & the Onondaga Nation OLA Junior Lacrosse, Advisory Board member for Ohngwe sports, and is a Founding Board member (1983) of the Iroquois National Lacrosse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Denise Waterman said, “I enjoy applying Haudenosaunee ideology manifesting itself through the Haudenosaunee lacrosse, which allows the entire world to see, learn, and feel the pride of indigenous peoples and lacrosse enthusiasts from every corner of the world.” During her tenure as Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse 2010-2015, she wrote, established, and negotiated the 2011 FIL merger initiative for the Haudenosaunee regarding the full nation membership for all our people within the world lacrosse organization. She also is widely noted for winning the bid to host the international 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on Native Lands; under her auspices as Executive Director. The World Lacrosse. Inc., an international sporting organization, has awarded Ms. Waterman the International Spirit of Lacrosse Award in 1998, 2007, 2011, and 2016. Her colleagues say, “The sustainability and future of indigenous sports are protected, thanks to the vigilance and character and truth of Denise Waterman that is the energy, the positive leadership that is the inner wisdom that provides us a view beyond ourselves; at no expense to others.” Denise Waterman’s educational background includes a B.S., SUCO New York in Education, Master’s Syracuse University, CAS in Education Leadership, and Ed.D Executive Leadership candidate at LeMoyne College. Denise’s family members are Lawson, Madex, Kohen, Kimaura, Tia, and Gewas. Done:toh.

< Back Delby Powless ​ ​ ​ Delby Powless Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 ​ ​ Delby Powless is member of the Mohawk Nation. He is a Child and Youth Counselor in his home community, Six Nations of the Grand River, in Ontario, Canada. Powless played five seasons with the Six Nations Junior A Arrows lacrosse club and is currently the team’s All-time leading scorer with 686 total points. While attending Herkimer County Community College, Powless was twice named All-American. He transferred to D1 Rutgers University where he led the Scarlet Knights in scoring both years and was a 2x All-American, while leading Rutgers to 2 NCAA tournament appearances. Powless also won a Canadian University lacrosse championship with Brock University and was named All-Canadian. Powless represented the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team as a player at six World Championships, and at the first-ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, he was selected to the All-World Team. In 2003 Powless was named the recipient of the Tom Longboat Award as Canada’s Top Aboriginal Athlete. Powless was drafted 1st overall in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft by the Buffalo Bandits and helped them win the Champions Cup in 2008. Powless also played in Major League Lacrosse with Toronto Nationals winning the Steinfeld Cup in 2009. <Back

Gary Sargent Category Athlete Tribe Red Lake Ojibwe Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 2/18/1954 Gary played and excelled in sports at the high school, college and professional levels. At Bemidji High School in Bemidji, MN, Gary was an NCAA DI prospect in football, baseball, and hockey. He turned down an offer from the Minnesota Twins baseball team after high school graduation to pursue a career in hockey. Gary played hockey at Bemidji State College for one year. During this time Gary was named to the World Cup team and played collegiate hockey in Graz, Austria. This team won a silver medal. He was named a college All American while playing at Bemidji State College. Gary played junior hockey with the Fargo Moorhead Sugar Kings for one year before turning professional. He played in the American Hockey League before joining the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons. In 1977 Gary signed with the Minnesota North Stars and played there until his retirement from professional hockey in 1983. During his tenure with the North Stars he was selected to the NHL All Star Team twice, and played in 402 games in the NHL. Home About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact Nomination More

< Back Jonathan Cheechoo ​ ​ ​ Jonathan Cheechoo Moose Cree First Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2023 July 15, 1980 ​ Jonathan Cheechoo is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation located at the southern end of James Bay in northern Ontario, Canada. Jonathan first played hockey at the age of four years old but only began playing organized hockey at 14 years old when he played AAA Bantam in Timmins, Ontario. From there Jonathan continued to excel through Midget AAA in Kapuskasing, Ontario to Jr. B with the Kitchener Dutchmen. He caught the eye of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was drafted 5th overall in 1997 by the Belleville Bulls. Jonathan played with the Bulls for three years and increased his scoring totals each year with 76 points, 82 points, and 92 points respectively. In 1999, Jonathan led the Bulls to the OHL title and scored 5 goals in the deciding game 7 to help his team clinch the championship. Jonathan’s success in the OHL caught the attention of National Hockey League (NHL) teams. In 1998, Jonathan was drafted 29th overall by the San Jose Sharks. Prior to breaking into the NHL, he played in the American Hockey League (AHL). While in the AHL, Jonathan continued to show his natural talent around the net leading to being called up to the NHL’s Sharks in the 2002-03 season, where he remained for seven seasons. In 2005-06, Jonathan scored 56 goals and won the Maurice Richard trophy, which is awarded to the player with the most goals in a season. Jonathan joined the Ottawa Senators for one season in 2009-10 and finished his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he played for four seasons. Jonathan achieved the unique feat of being selected to participate in the All-Star Game of every league in which he has played, including the AHL, NHL and KHL. Jonathan announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2018. Proud of his roots and Cree heritage, he has maintained strong ties to his home community. Jonathan credits much of his success to the support of his community and supportive, loving family. Jonathan enjoys leading hockey camps in his hometown and speaks to Indigenous youth about the importance of pursuing their dreams. photo credit: San Jose Sharks <Back

< Back Neilson Powless ​ ​ ​ Neilson Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 September 3, 1996 ​ Neilson Powless burst onto the United States road racing scene as a 19-year-old and found instant success, finishing ninth overall at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir. Those results shot him to the World Tour where his adaptability accelerated his learning curve. His sporting family laid the foundation for his future professional success. His mom ran the marathon in the 1992 Olympics. His dad was in the Air Force and raced Ironman’s, winning an award for being the top Ironman finisher who was also in the military. His sister, Shayna is also a professional cyclist who has raced for the US National Team. Family time in the Powless household was spent outdoors: swimming in the lake, running, and riding bikes on the trails in Northern California. Before pursuing cycling, Powless won both XTERRA National and World Championships in 2012. Since entering the World Tour, most notable results are as follows: Winner of 2021 Klasikoa Donostia San Sebastián and the first time an American has won a World Tour one day race in over a decade. 5th place in 2021 Pro World Championships and the best result for an American in over two decades. Competed twice in the Tour de France and first ever North American Native to compete in the Tour de France. Photo: Getty Images <Back

< Back Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis ​ ​ ​ Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis Seaconke Wampanoag Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 August 24, 1986 ​ Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis hails from East Providence RI, is a member of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe and is the first Indigenous Woman fighter to become a World Champion. As a Professional Boxer, Reis has attained six World Titles in two weight classes and is currently the WBA, IBO and WBO Super Lightweight World Champion and is on the “Road to Undisputed”. Kali made history when she participated in HBOs’ first ever Women’s televised in 2018. She uses her boxing platform to spread awareness on various issues such as the MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). Living up to her given name Mequinonoag, translated to Many Feathers/Many Talents, Kali is a certified Motorcycle/Small Engines Technician and has worked as a Residential Counselor since 2009. She has found healing in sharing her story and mentoring troubled youth with a relatable approach, as well as traveling to speak with and support various communities in hopes of being a positive example to “Never throw in the towel no matter what punches life throws at you”. In 2021, Kali made her acting debut with the lead role in the film ‘Catch the Fair One; in which she also received a writer’s credit. This film highlights the MMIW epidemic & earned a Special Jury Mention award at the Tribeca film festival. Recently, an Indie Film Spirit Award nominee for Best Female Lead Actress was announced for Reis’ performance. This mixed Cape Verdean/Native American has a “Voice for the Voiceless.” <Back

< Back Donny Belcourt ​ ​ ​ Donny Belcourt Chippewa Cree Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2023 February 28, 1965 ​ Donald “Donny” Belcourt attended high school in Billings, Montana and was part of a State Championship Cross Country team at Billings Senior High School. While in high school, Donny was also an amateur boxer and was a Montana State Golden Gloves Champion at 112 lbs. and was named Outstanding Fighter. Donny decided to focus on running and went to Haskell Indian Junior College, while under the tutelage of two legendary coaches, Coach Gerald Tuckwin and Coach Michael Daney. Donny became a three-time All American while competing in Indoor Track, 2 mile, Outdoor Track, 3000 meter Steeplechase, and Marathon, and led his team to a National Championship in the Marathon. Oklahoma State University and Coach Dick Weis gave Donny his next post-high school opportunity with a full ride track scholarship. At OSU, Donny was an All Conference and All Regional runner in Cross Country. Donny was able to really hit his stride post collegiately and in 1991 he represented the Western United States at the US Olympic Festival at 5000 meters. In 1992 he qualified for the US Olympic Trials at 1500 meters with a time of 3 minutes 41.3 seconds and 5000 meters in 13 minutes 46.2 seconds. Donny also qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials at 1500 meters. The times Donny ran at 1500 meters and 5000 meters made him one of the fastest Natives to ever race these distances. Mesa, Arizona is where he currently calls home with his wife Jo Belcourt and their children Brett and Jocelynn Belcourt. <Back

< Back Nicole Johnson ​ ​ ​ Nicole Johnson Inupiaq Induction Category: Year Inducted D.O.B. ​ Athlete 2022 May 20, 1969 ​ Nicole Johnson’s passion for Inuit games started in fifth grade when she learned how to do the Two-Foot High Kick after church in a youth program. Inuit games are games that were played to build the survival skills Indigenous people of the North played to develop the skills need for everyday survival and just for fun. In seventh grade, Nicole entered her first competition at the 1982 Native Youth Olympics (NYO), taking first place in the Two-Foot High Kick. She continued to compete through high school, at NYO, the World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO), and the Arctic Winter Games (AWG). After high school she continued to compete until 2004, over the years winning over 100 medals, earning the outstanding athlete award, and sportsmanship award, at various competitions. She has set records in several events over the years, setting her first record in the Two-Foot High Kick at the 1985 NYO and continued to break her record until the 1989 WEIO, kicking 6’6”. This record held for 25 years. Her record in the Two-Foot High Kick at AWG, still holds at 6’5”. In 2017, Nicole was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, as an athlete and ambassador to Native Games. Nicole is the former chairwoman of WEIO, and current President of AWG Team Alaska. Nicole currently works with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, coaching youth, training officials, assists with organizing the statewide Native Youth Olympics competitions, and acting as the head official for many different competitions. Her passion for the Inuit games continues by sharing and preserving the rich history and culture of these sports through coaching, instruction at schools, throughout Alaska, the lower 48, and the Yukon territories. Photo: Cook Inlet Tribal Council <Back